I cannot believe that January has come and gone so fast! If I have not seen you in the NEW YEAR…HAPPY BELATED NEW YEAR! It is my hope that you are off to a healthy and prosperous beginning for 2018. This past month we were able to host our annual Piscataway Experience, an event that showcases student academics and our clubs & activities to the incoming freshman class of 2022. We were extremely PROUD to unveil our 4 NEW Academies (Biomedical, Engineering, Performing, and Visual Arts) that will provide a greater academic focus for students. These academies will INSPIRE our students to EXCEL on a pathway far beyond high school. We look to accomplish GREAT things. If you want to learn more about the exciting things going on at PHS read on…

Strength & Honor

On January 10th we hosted the annual Piscataway High School Experience for our 8th grade students and their parents. We had an amazing turnout while showcasing our school and all of course offerings and extracurricular activities. Each year we receive positive feedback which is a true testament of what Piscataway High School is all about. The night would not be possible without the strong support of the students, teachers, staff members and administrators who all came together to make the night a huge success. We continue to build for a BRIGHT future at our PHS Empire one student at a time.

This past fall 73 PHS FBLA and DECA students on 29 teams competed virtually with hundreds of other students from around New Jersey in Junior Achievement's Titan competition. JA Titan introduces critical economics and management decisions through an interactive simulation.

Of this group, 43 students on 18 teams qualified to move on to the semifinal round, held at various corporate locations around New Jersey throughout January. With 3 of 4 semifinal rounds complete, 17 PHS students on 6 teams are still in the hunt for the final round, which will be held at Ethicon (J&J) in Somerville, NJ, on February 5th.

"Junior Achievement Titan is a unique experience that gives students the thrill of running their own business while competing against other industries,” states Adam Liang, PHS senior and veteran of previous Titan competitions. Adam hopes to avenge last year's second-place finish (which earned his team a not-too-shabby $500) and seize the championship this year (and its $1000 prize).​

Congratulations to Piscataway High School art students, Emma Broggi, Mark Cruz, Kathleen Hammerdahl, Avia Hurley, Gabriella Ortiz, Mia Tomasino, Sara Venturi, and Justin Wilkins for having their artwork selected and published in the Fall 2017 Blick Celebrating Art anthology. This publication brings together the best student artists in North America. The intent of this student art contest is to motivate student artists and provide the top entries the opportunity to be published in an anthology that will record the creative works of today's student artists.

At the end of the year, AP Art Drawing students and class of 2017 graduates, Neha Patel and Nina Gabriel, entered the 2017 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Art Contest. The contest asks students to create a piece of artwork that is inspired by an issue that impacts our oceans such as pollution, conservation and environmental impacts on the ecosystem. Neha won the Silver Award and Nina won the Distinguished Honorable Mention Award. Both students researched and illustrated issues related to the impact of oil spills in our oceans. Their artwork out from the 3000 pieces entered from around the world.

Teachers Sandra Guevara and Justin Lee have art on display at the district administration building located at 1515 Stelton Road through the end of February. If you happen to be in the building, check out the art work located in the main hallway.

As part of Piscataway High School’s participation in the Paper Mill Playhouse Adopt-a-School Program, students traveled to see Annie. The students really loved the production, and it was a great opportunity to experience a classic piece of musical theatre. For some of the students, this was their first time seeing Annie! The show starred two big Broadway names: Beth Leavel as Miss Hannigan and Christopher Sieber as Warbucks. The students got a taste of Broadway in NJ. All of the other schools participating in Adopt-A-School were also present at the performance, so it was a fantastic experience for the students involved in this wonderful program. The next trip is to see a political comedy and world premiere of The Outsider is scheduled for February 8.

The PHS Choir sponsored an A Cappella Festival on Saturday, January 6th. The event featured performances by Take Note (PHS’s all-female A Cappella group), Noteriety (PHS’s mixed A Cappella group); The Orphan Sporks (Rutgers University’s mixed A Cappella group, and Ithacapella (Ithaca College’s all-male A cappella group). Additionally, there was a workshop open to singers in grade six and older. Students and adults worked with Ithacappella and The Orphan Sporks to learn two of their pieces. Participants had a chance to perform these songs on stage at the finale of the concert. The audience was treated to an amazing concert featuring our own talent right here at PHS and the amazing talents brought to us from Ithaca College and Rutgers University. It was a great opportunity for students in our district to see the potential of choral singing in college and beyond! Thanks to Ms. Suozzo for arranging a great day!

The following PHS students were accepted into Region II performing ensembles.

Students from all over central New Jersey auditioned for these ensembles and we are honored to have so many students accepted!

Judith Alegun, sophomore, alto II

Emma Cusmano, sophomore, soprano II

Natasha Gantaram, junior, soprano I

Ryen Hagg, junior, soprano I

Gina Le, sophomore, alto I

Darin Mak, junior, tenor II

Isabella Lopez, sophomore, soprano II

Joanne Plaras, junior, alto II

Stephany Rojas, senior, soprano I

Jade Scharnikow, sophomore, soprano II

Patricia Suan, senior, soprano I

Chanelle Thornton, junior, alto I

Annie Wang, sophomore, clarinet

Piscataway High School would like to say Congratulations to Cadets Matthew Marcinko and Teja Nath. They have been selected to participate in the 1st AFJROTC Chief of Staff Flight Academy Private Pilot Scholarship Program. This scholarship has a cost equivalent of approximately $20,000. They still have a few more critical dates and items to complete with a goal of attending Flight Training this summer. Wish them luck as they continue this journey.

On January 8, 2018 four Rutgers Pharmacy students (Emily Casey, Youssef Abdelmoula, Elizabeth Adekunle, and Tanisha Makker) and one EOF counselor (Jerlissa Rivas) came to PHS to host a Pharmacy High School Outreach program. This is a program that the Rutgers SNPhA (Student National Pharmacist Association) takes part in every year. They reach out to different high schools to come talk to students about the field of pharmacy. Their goal is to educate students on what pharmacy is, how students can learn more about it, and the programs offered at Rutgers. They also talk about how Rutgers has a joint program with Montclair State University and Stockton which allows students to earn a dual degree. At the end of the presentation students were able to ask any questions they had about pharmacy or just college in general. The goal of this program is to get more students interested in pharmacy and encourage them to consider pharmacy as a future career option. For students who would like more information Rutgers has a Shadow a Pharmacy Student for a Day program that takes place in March.

The Practical Arts, Business and Family Consumer Science Department took the opportunity over two days to promote electives that are offered in their department. Standing outside the Commons and the Patton Café, teachers and students from Business, Television, Engineering, Print & Wood Technology, Electronics and Nutrition, promoted their courses with posters, power point slideshows, videos and robotic creations to entice students. With the Feb 14th &15th course advisement dates around the corner, this was a great chance for students to see the many options that P-Way offers.

Our PHS teacher of Radio/TV, Brittany Bickerton announces the birth of her healthy baby boy. Baby Colten Thomas and his Mom are home resting and doing well. Congratulations!

February 1 PTSO Dine to Donate, 4:00-10:00pm Texas Roadhouse, North Plainfield

February 3 3rd Annual Father & Son Conference

February 5 National School Counseling Week

February 12 Spirit Week 2/12-2/16/18

February 14 Valentine's Day

February 16 Report Cards availabe to Parents in Genesis at 12:00pm (noon)

February 16 SnowBall Dance - 6:00-10:00pm in the Anthony Commons

February 19 President's Day - School Closed

February 26 PTSO Meeting - 7:00pm in Anthony Commons